Sandy M’s review of The Tribute (Malloy Family, Book 6) by Beth Williamson
Historical Western Romance published by Samhain 25 Dec 07

I’ve had Ms. Williamson’s Malloy Family books on my wishlist for quite a long time. I delayed purchasing them and now I’ve got six more of those Malloy siblings to catch up with, but I’m looking forward to it because they are a tight-knit family who are each passionate and independent in their own way. That’s one of the things that’s keeping me on track to read the rest of this series – the family aspect of these books. On top of that, they’re heartfelt, sexy, fun, and serious when called for.

Brett is the silent loner of the family. He sometimes even felt he never fit in with their large, boisterous gang. So when he wins a ranch in a poker game, he bides his time until the previous owner has passed away and then begins to build home for himself. What makes the whole thing special to Brett is the fact that the entire ranch will be his. He doesn’t have to share it with anyone. He loves his brothers and sisters, but he’s tired of hand-me-downs and second-hand anything.

Amid all this he also realizes he wants a wife and family of his own. He wants what his other siblings have found, peace and contentment with children running around the house. Knowing the pickins are slim in town, he turns his sights to Alex, the lady doctor he though he would marry twelve years ago. She’d be the perfect wife for him. If only she’d have him back. Guess it’s time he found out. Too bad for him the doc has a long memory. I have to give Brett kudos, though. He doesn’t give up easily when he goes after what he wants. He keeps going back for more and more, good or bad.

But Alex will have none of him. She’s still furious with him about the note he sent to her to call it quits between them all those years ago. She’s a strong woman with a career. She’s independent and doesn’t need a man to make her life complete. I loved how she gives Brett what-for in the beginning, doesn’t let him get away with just waltzing right back into her life like nothing happened.

And although she keeps her fury with him front and center, she can’t keep her heart and her body from reacting when the man is near. She can only hold out so long, though. When real love is right and in the air, I don’t think most women can hold out all that long. It’s a cute scene when Brett is all fired up to ask Alex to marry him, but nothing even close to proposing comes out of his mouth when he confronts her. They’re a nice couple together and you root for them when the bully of the town begins to terrorize them

King Dawson really does think he’s king of all he surveys and he acts like it. He doesn’t even bat at eye at murder. But every time he throws his best evil at Brett and Alex, they prove that being in love and sticking together no matter what is all it takes to persevere. Ms. Williamson pulls no punches when it comes to tossing serious wrenches into her stories. Several bad events happen that throw the characters for a loop, but said events are all well-placed and well-timed to end up being a huge lesson, especially for Brett, when it comes to family.

If you’re a western romance fan, I think you’ll enjoy this series.

Grade: B

Summary:

Can a man who lives in the shadows and a woman who lives in the light find a place to belong together?

Brett Malloy has always been considered a loner, a man apart from the Malloy clan. Quiet, reserved and intense, Brett hides from the world on his new ranch with only an ex-gunslinger and a runaway boy for company. When circumstances put him flat on his back, his childhood crush, Doctor Alexandra Brighton arrives to nurse him back to health.

Alex has always loved Brett despite the fact that a more difficult man couldn’t be found on the face of the earth. A woman who firmly believes everyone should live life to the fullest, Alex takes Brett’s quiet surliness as a mission. She’s going to teach him what it means to live, and how to find love and passion in the most unexpected places.

When rancher King Dawson claims Alex as his own, Brett has to choose between the darkness of his shadows and the light of Alex’s love.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: